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i p gtnttch'gtstcs gaunt @ffirc AUGUSTUS THEODORE SCHMIDT, OFPlTTSBUR-G, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 61,267, dated January 15, 1867. l

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFAGTURE OF PAPER AND TREATMENT OF PAPER PULP.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

" Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS Tnsononn Sena/nor, in the county ofAllegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Manufacture of Paper and Treatment of Paper Pulp andother fibrous substances; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description thereof.

My improvement consists in.the mode hereinafter described of treatingpaper, eitherin the process of man'- ufacture or after it has beenfinished, and either in a sized or unsizcd condition, whereby itsstrength and durability are greatly increased, it is rendered in a greatdegree, it notentirely, impervious to water, oil, and other fluids andgases, and also capable of resisting the destructive action of thestrongest acids and alkalies. My improvement is also applicable to thetreatment of textile fabrics, such as linen and cotton cloth, renderingthem, in a great measure, water-proof, and increasing their strength anddurability. By means of my improvement vegetable textile fabrics, andespecially paper, are rendered susceptible of application to many usesto which they are not adapted as ordinarily manufactured. This ispeculiarly the case with paper, which is easily made from almost anydescription of vegetable fibre, and being readily moulded into anydesired shape, may, when rendered water-proof, air-proof,'andacid-proof, by my process, be applied to a variety of useful purposes,for domestic use, and in the arts and manufactures, as a substitute forleather, glass, cotton and linen cloth, India rubber, bladder,parchment, and various other articles, for many of which purposes it isvastly superior to the articles the use of which it is designed tosupplant. v

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my-invcntion, I willproceed to describe the process by which I produce the results 'whichIhave stated. I

As applied to paper, my process is as follows: The pulp being preparedof any desired vegetable fibre, in the ordinary manner, is made intopaper, by hand or by machinery, as usual; and before being made intosheets, is exposed to a gentle heat, as is usual, to remove the excessof moisture and make it dry or nearly so. It is then passed through abath, consisting of a mixture of one part of glycerine, (0 H 0 and twoparts of oil of vitriol, ($01 ,110,) and nine parts of water, mixedtogether and placed in a suitable vessel, which may, if desired, beconveniently attachedto the paper-making machinery. The paper isimmersed in or passed through this mixture until completely saturatedtherewith, when the excess of fluid is removed. by pressurc-rollers orscrapers or otherwise, the kind of apparatus used in my process beingimmaterial so as it accomplishes the result. The eii'ect of this mixtureon the fibre of the paper is to change its character and texture, and toform on its surface a gelatinous covering, by the dissolving of portionsof the pulp in the oil of vitriol and the mix ture therewith of theglycerine. After the paper or pulp hasbeen treated with this mixture ofglycerine, acid and water, it is passed through an alkaline bath,consisting of a solution of ammonia, soda-lye, or other alkali. ofsufiicicnt strength to neutralize the acid of the oil of vitriol, (theconstituents of which are sulphuric acid and water,) and arrest itsfurther action on the fibres of the paper. The paper may then be passedthrough Water and afterwards dried and treated in the usual way. Ifcalendered by passing between heated rolls, care should be takcn not tohave the rolls too hot, which would render the paper hard and brittle.Paper in sheets, either sized or unsized, may be treated in the mannerdescribed, after it has been' manufactured and finished inthe usualmanner, provided it has not been sized with animal gelatine or glue; andwhen treated by my process, and dried, pressed, or calendcrcd, possessesthe qualities which I have described.

If paper pulp, in mass, be treated in the manner described by myprocess, it may, while yet moist, after passing through the alkalinebath to neutralize the acid, be moulded into any required shape, and ofany desired thickness, to form vessels for holding water, acids, &c., orfor soles of boots and shoes, for buttons, and for various otherpurposes. So, also, sheets of paper, beforebeing dried, may be united atthe edges to form bags or other articles, or may be laid in piles, oneon top of another, and when compressed will unite in a solid mass orboard of any desired thickness. I

Cotton and linen cloth, and other textile fabrics or articles ofvegetable fibre, may be treated by my procase, by passing them throughthe mixture of glyceriuaoil of vitriol, and water, and afterwards washedin an alkaline bath, and be thereby rendered stronger, more durable, andwater-proof.

In describing the proportions of ingredients used for treating textilefabrics, paper, and other vegetable fibrous substances by my process, Ihave stated that which I find to accomplish the result successfully, butI do not wish to confine myself to the exact proportions which I havenamed.

It is almost impossible so enumerate the various purposes to which myinvention is applicable. As paper prepared by my process is notinjuriously affected by nitric acid, or by sulphuric acid, cups or cellsmay be made of it for galvanic batteries, and vessels for preparing ormanufacturing those acids,-ancl other purposes in chem- I 'icaloperations and processes. As paper so treated is very strong when wet,assuming the appearance of bladder, it may be used as an airtightcovering for cases and vessels, and for putting,up chemicals, by beingstretched over them when moistened; and as it r csiststhe action ofcaustic alkalies, and is impervious to water or air, it may be used toadvantage for enclosing-such chemicals as deliquesce when exposed to theaction of moisture or of the atmosphere. e l

Paper, when prepared in the manner described, assumes the appearance andhas several of the charac- V teristics of parchment, and is admirablyadapted for use for legal and other documents requiring durability andpermanency. When made thinit is also, owing to its great strength andtoughness, even when wet with water, peculiarly suited for printing banknotes, bonds, fractional currency, and similar purposes. It may also beused for water-proof lining for boots and shoes for lining for tanks inoil and acid manufactories; for hat bodies; for bookbinding; for hose orpipes for oil, water, or steam; for valve-seats; forbags for carryingfluids, butter, ice-cream, &c., and for very many other purposes. I

Having thus described my improvement, what I claim as my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-. v I

The process hereinbefore described of treating paper, paper pulp, andtextile fabrics of vegetable fibre, with a mixture of glycerine, oil ofvitriol, and water, and subsequently with any alkaline bath, or theequivalent of such process, substantially as and for the purposeshereinbefore described.

In'testimony whereof I, the said Aueus'rcs Trmonons Scanner, havehereunto set my hand in presence of-- A. T. SCHMIDT.

Witnesses:

W. Bmnwim, A. S. NIUHOLSON.

